Signal system for elevators



June 23, 1931. H. J..FEAR 1,811,622

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS Filed July 14, 1926 qwwgwzm Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD J. FEAR, OF MON'ICIAIR, NE\V JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ELEVATGR SUPPLIES COMPANY, INC., OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEXV JERSEY SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS Application filed July 14, 1926. Serial No. 122,842.

This invention relates to signaling apparatus for elevators and has particular reference to elevator installations comprising a bank of cars having common signal initiating means and individual signal receiving, transmitting and canceling means, such for example as is shown in patent to Smalley &Reiners #634,220 and patent to T. Porter, #1,075,270.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved signaling system of this general type. More particularly the object is to provide improved and more effective means for permitting a car to pass a floor at which a passenger is waiting Without canceling the signal set by that passenger. A further object of the invention is to provide for this socalled transfer of a signal without any intervention being necessary on the part of the car operator, the entire mechanism being automatic in its operation.

I am aware that such an automatic signal transfer means is shown in patent to Porter #1,075,27O above referred to and in patent to Andren #1,109,950, and I therefore do not claim such invention broadly. My invention lies in providing electro-magnetic means for transferring the signal for a stop at a particular floor from a car passing that floor to a following car, which electro-magnetic means is distinctly novel over the means shown in either of the patents just referred to. Furthermore I so arrange and combine the parts of my novel apparatus as to permit the signal displayed at any floor to remain until the car leaves the floor, rather than to cancel the floor signal upon stopping,-as is the case when the apparatus shown in either of the two patents just mentioned is employed. The advantage of my system in this connection lies in the fact that the waiting car is indicated by the displayed signal sothat passengers desiring to board the car can see at a glance just which car is waiting.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic view of the preferred form for my signal system with my automatic transfer apparatus installed In order to obtain a comprehension of the invention as applied to an elevator signaling system, such system will be briefly described in connection with the drawing, wherein A designates one of a plurality of elevator cars to which an up or down stop signal can be given from any floor by the buttons B, up and down buttons for three floors being shown. The signal means in the car may be of any preferred type, but is shown in the drawings conventionally at G. Up and down signal lights for three floors are indicated at C, it being understood that similar passenger signaling mechanism is provided for each floor.

In the circuits of the up push buttons and signal lights or lanterns, as they are more commonly called, are the signal operating and resetting magnets, the up magnet groups being represented at E and the down magnet groups at F. The usual commutator mechanism for each elevator is preferably employed for controlling the floor lanterns, car light G, and reset magnels of the groups E and F, after the method of operation disclosed in the patent to Smalley & Reiners hereinbefore referred to. This commutator mechanism is shown in the drawing for elevator A, the up commutator being designated by the reference character H and the down commutator by the character I, it being understood that each car in the system has a similar mechanism for completing the signal circuits.

In the car A is the usual transfer and cutout switch operated by the button 10. As a matter of fact, as will be seen the description progresses, this transfer and cutout switch, which is normally closed, need not be considered in the normal operation, but it is preferably used to provide means for simultaneously transferring waiting passenger signals and obliterating all of the advance signals for car A at the will of the operator.

The automatic transfer apparatus of my invention will now be described. 11 indicates an electro-magnet or relay adapted to be energized when the elevator hoisting motor is assisting ear A, preferably means of eon necting the wires 12 and 1.8 with full voltage terminal points on the elevator control board (not shown). (In practice coil. 11 maybe the well-known brake coil. which is energized to release a brake upon starting the hoisting motor.)

Obviously any other means for energizing coil 11 upon the starting of the car may be employed within the spirit of this invention. Coil 11 has associated therewith contacts adapted to be bridged by the armature 14: of coil 11 when the latter is attracted upon the energization of the coil.

15 is a resistance unit preferably inserted in the circuit passing thru the magnet 16, which circuit is also preferably cross-connected to the elevator control circuit (not shown) so as to energize magnet 16 whenever the contacts at 1% are bridged by the energization of coil 11.

The remaining parts of my novel automatic transfer apparatus comprise the setting and restoring magnets 17 and 18 and the restoring magnet 19, together with the contact making means shown at 20, 21, 22, which are preferably of the mercury pot type, similar to those shown in magnet groups E and F and needing no further explanation in this art, mrticularly in view of the patents referred to above.

To explain the method in which my transfer apparatus functions, a typical operation will be followed through. Let it be supposed that car A is descending in its hatch and that button 3 represents the third floor down signal push button, segn'lent 27 the third :tloor pick-up segment, and segment 32 the third floor re-set segment. Let it further be supposed that a passenger is on this floor desiring to descend and that he has pressed but ten 3. This will close the circuit to magnet l of group F, which circuit will pass from the low voltage source of current 5, thru cond ctors (3 and 7, magnet l, conductor 8, contacts operated by push button 3, bacg thru conductor 9 to the low voltage source of current The energizing of magnet l thus produced causes finger 25 to make contact so as to permit a circuit to be mane from source K thru commutator I (assuming car A is the nearest car) to the signal G in the car and down signal 26 on the third floor when the proper commutator brush (not shown) spans the pick-up segment 27 of commutator I in the manner common in the art. The brushes (not shown) and segments are preferably so arranged that the circuits to light G in the car and 26 at the floor will remain made, or at least the circuit to light 26 will remain made, until car A has passed the third floor in its descent.

During normal operation, tnat is to say,

- while a car is traveling in the hatchway, its

signal transfer unit (it being understood that each car has associated therewith a relay group similar to that designated by numerals 11 to 22 and shown associated with car A) will remain in the condition shown in the drawing. In such condition, relay 1G is maintained energized so that contact 22 remains in the open circuit position, as shown in the drawing. The open circuit at 22 prevents the energization of relay 18, permitting contact to be made at due to the force of gravity. The closed circuit at 20 permits the continuous energization of relay 19 while the car A is in motion, the current flowing from source 5 thru wires 6 and l0 to relay 19. thence back thru contact 20 and wires 37 and 38.

The con nuous energization of relay 19 thus eil'erued holds cont-act 2'1v out of circuitclosing position as long as the car remains in motion, as shown. Now inasmuch as he circuit to magnet 30 can only be made at a time when both contact (at the conuuutater and contact 21 (at the transfer unit) are closed, it is obvious that should the car A pass the third floor in its descent without stopping, the signalgiving-circuit, closed atthe contact when button 3 '2 s pressed, remains closed at this point and the succeedcar or cars will be signalled in a manner similar to that employed for signaling car A, such trar er of the signal initiated by the pressing of button 3 continuing until a car stops to answer the call, it being understood that conductors 25a and 33 are crossconnected to the comuuitators (notshown) associated with the other cars in the bank, in the conventional method.

Now let it be assumed that car A instead of passing the third floor in its descent stops at tl e third floor to answer the call. Upon stopping, coil 11 will. be deencrgized, as heretofore plaincd, causing contacts at 1 to open and thereby (lo-energizing magnet 16, which will allow Contact to be made at ing of contact at will complete for magnet 18, which will pass as circuit follows:

From the source of current 5 thru conductors 6 and 4:0, magnet 18, conductor 41, contact 22, thence back thru conductors 537 and 38 to the source 5.

Energizatiou of u'iagnet 18 thus produced will cause the withdrawal of contact 20. ithdrawal of contact 20 breaks the circuit from source 5 to magnet 10. allowing contact 21 to drop into circuit closing position. The dropping of contact 21. closes the circuit to re-set magnet at the transfer unit. but cancellation of the signal 26 will not take place just yet, because the circuit to magnet 30 is still open at 32, it being noted that the relative arrangement of the commutator segments and brush 31 does 1 permit the brush 31 to arrive at segment 32 until car A reaches a point just beyond the third floor level.

Now when car A, after taking on the passenger at the third floor, starts in motion again, coils 11 and 16 are again energized, causing withdrawal of contact at 22, as shown. WVithdrawal ofcontact at 22 therefore breaks the circuit to magnet 18 immediately upon starting of car A, but the armature of magnet 18 remains locked by the arinature'of magnet 17, the construction of these armatures being substantially like that shown in patent to Smalley & Beiners, referred to above, and needing no further explanation in this art. As a consequence of the locked condition of the armature of magnet 18, contact 20 remains out of, and contact 21 remains in circuit-closing position, which positions these contacts assumed when car A stopped, as described above.

Now a very slight further movement of the car brings brush'31 across segment 32, and the circuit to magnet 30 is thereupon completed, passing as follows:

From the low voltage source of current 5 thru conductors 6 and 7 to reset magnet 30, thence thru conductor 33 to third floor reset segment 32, brush 31, feed strip 34, thence thru conductor 35 to magnet 17, thence thru conductor 36, contact 21, conductor 37, switch 10, back to the low voltage source of current by way of return wire 38.

Energization of magnet 30 thus produced withdraws contact 25 to cause cancellation of the signal appearing at 26, and prevents the succeeding cars from receiving similar down signals from the third floor until another person re-initiates the operation of the signal system from button 3.

Furthermore the energization of magnet 17 withdraws its armature from locking .engagement with that of magnet 18, allowing contact to drop in again at 20,as shown.

Dropping of contact at 20 again energizes magnet 19 in the circuit from source 5, and the parts of the transfer unit are again restored to the normal car-running condition shown in the figure, which condition they will maintain until car A makes another stop. From this detailed description of the operation it is obvious that I have invented a signal transfer system which transfers the waiting passengers signal in the event the leading car does not stop, and which cancels the signal in the event the leading car stops for the passenger; but in either event the system also functions to retain the floor signal for the passenger until leaving the floor, neither the transfer nor the cancellation being complete until passing beyond the floor level.

While I have shown one specific arrangement of the parts and an application of the transfer unit to one particular signal. system, obviously other modified arrangements and applications of the signal transfer mechanism.may occur to those skilled in the art. For example, if it is desired to have the first car lock out the signal equipment of subsequent cars, additional selector mechanism may be inserted, as for instance the so-called selector relays shown and claimed in application of R. H. Gaylord, Ser. No. 700,604, which would, of course, be placed in circuit between the various contacts in thepassengers controlled magnet groups E and F on the one hand, and the corresponding pickup segments (similar to segment 27) on the other; the number of such pairs of relays to be employed depending on the number of cars in the system and the number of floors to be served, just as in the illustrations in the Gaylord application above referred to.

I therefore limit myself only by the scope of my invention as disclosed herein and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator signal system a car, a signal for said car for a floor at which said car may stop and a circuit therefor, means at said floor for setting said circuit in signal operating condition, means operatingin synchronism with the car for operating said signal in response to the operation of said signal setting means, means for restoring said signal setting means to its normally inoperative con-- dition comprising a restoring circuit, two normally open switches in said circuit, means for closing one of said switches as an incident to the stopping of the car at said floor,

and means for closing the second switch only upon the departure of said car from said floor. 1 v I 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the restoring means includes an electro-magnet ic device, a circuit thereto, and means to open said circuit as an incident to the stopping of the car.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the restoring means comprises an electro-magnetic device, a circuit thereto, means for opening said circuit asan incident to the stopping of the car, and means for reclosing said circuit upon the resumption'ofmotion of the car.

4. In an elevator signaling system, an elevator adapted to serve a plurality of landings, a signal device, the operation of which indicates the desire on the part of a passen ger or prospective passenger that the elevator'stop at a given landing, means for operating'saidsignal, means for-restoring said signalto its normally inoperative condition comprising a restoringcircuit, two normally open switches in said circuit, electro-magneticallyoperated means for closing one of said switches operable/as an incident to the stopping of said elevator at said landing, and means for closing the other switch operable only when said elevator passes a point just beyond said landing.

5. In an elevator si naling system, an elevator adapted to serve a plurality of landings, a signal device, the operation of which indicates the desire on the part of a passenger or prospective passenger that the elevator stop at a given landin means for operating said signal, means I01 restoring said signal to its normally inoperative condition comprising a restoring circuit, two normally open switches in said circuit, electro-magnetically operated means for closing one of said switches operable as an incident to the stopping of said elevator at said landing, and means for closing the other switch operable only upon the resumption of motion by said elevator after stopping at said landing, s d electro-magnetically operated means comprising a plurality of electro-magnets, one of which depends for its energization upon the prior energization of the other.

6. Ina signaling system for an elevator car, a landing signal, an electric circuit including said landing signal and the contacts of :1 normally open switch, passenger operated means forclosingsaid normallyopen switch, car controlled means for completing the landing nal circuit after the closure oi? said norms .y open switch, means for restoring said normally open switch to its normally opened po sition after the completion of said landing signal circuit comprising a restoring circuit, contacts defining a normally open break in said restoring circuit car controlled means operable to close said normally open break after the car leaves the landing at which said landing signal is located, an electro-magnetic switch having contact means in said restoring circuit and biased to closed position, means for maintaining said elect-ro-magnetic switch in open position during the normal running of the elevator car notwithstanding its bias to closed position, means for rendering said last-named means inel'l'ective to prevent the movement of said clectro-magnctic switch to closed position operable as an incident to the stopping of the car at said landing and means for reopening said electro-magnetic switch notwithstanding its bias to closed position upon the departure of said car from said landing. I

7. In an elevator signaling system, an elevator adapted to serve a plurality of landings, a signal device, the operation of which indicates the desire on the part of apassenger or prospective passenger that the elevator stop at a given landing, means for operating said signal, means for restoring said signal to its normally inoperative condition comprising a restoring circuit, two norma ly open switches in said circuit, means for closing one of said switches operable as an incident to the stopping of said elevator at said landing, and means for closing the other switch operable only upon the resumption of motion by said elevator after stopping at said landin 8. In a signal system for an elevator car, a landing signal, an electric circuit including said landing signal, normally open circuit closing means in said circuit, manually controlled means for closing said circuit closing means, means for restoring said circuit closing means to open position comprising an electro-magnetic device and a restoring circuit leading to said electro-magnetic device, car controlled switch means for closing a break in said restoring circuit after the car leaves the landing at which said landing signal. is located, and means for preventing the complete closure of said restoring circuit by the operation of said car controlled switch in the event that the car has failed to stop at said landing, said preventing means comprising a controlling switch included in said restoring circuit and tending to move into circuit closing position, means normally neutralizing said tendency when the car is in motion, and means operating as an incident to the stopping of said car at said landing to render said neutralizing means ineffective to prevent said controlling switch from mov ing to circuit closing position.

9. In a signal system for an elevator car, a construction as set forth in claim 8 and com prising in addition means for reopening said controlling switch upon the departure of the car from said landing, and means for preventing the etl'ective operation of said reopening means until said car controlled switch operates to close the break in the restoring circuit as specified in claim 8.

10. In a. signal system for an elevator car, a landing signal, an electric circuit including said landing signal, normally open circuit closing means in said circuit, manually controlled means for closing said circuit closing means, means for restoring said circuit closing means to open position comprising an electro-magnetic device and a restoring circuit leading to said electro-magnetic device, car controlled switch means for closing a break in said restoring circuit, means for preventing the complete closure of said restoring circuit by the operation of said car controlled switch in the event that the car has failed to stop at said landing, said preventing means comprising a controlling switch included in said restoring circuit and tending to move into circuit closing position, means normally neutralizing said tendency, and means operating as an incident to the stopping of said car at said landing to render said neutralizing means ineffective to prevent said controlling switeh from moving to circuit closing position.

11. In a signal system for an elevator car, a landing signal, an electric circuit including said landing signal, normally open circuit closing means in said circuit, manually controlled means for closing said circuit closing means, means for restoring said circuit closing means to inoperative condition comprising in part a restoring circuit and a switch included in said restoring circuit, said switch tending to move into circuit closing position, means normally neutralizing said tendency, and means operating as an incident to the loading or discharge of passengers at said landing to render said neutralizing means ineffective to prevent said switch from moving to circuit closing position.

Signed at Hoboken, New Jersey this 12th day of July 192-6.

HAROLD J. FEAR. 

